Austin Dog Alliance Inks Deal on Land for New, Larger Facilities

Sept. 5, 2012 - PRLog -- The Austin Dog Alliance announced this week that the organization has closed on a 7.1 acre tract of land in Cedar Park, on which it will immediately begin construction of its new, larger facilities.

The Austin Dog Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, kicked off its “Build Our Forever Home Capital Campaign” fundraising efforts in early 2012 to raise the $1.57 million dollars necessary to complete its new facility at 1321 West New Hope Drive in Cedar Park.  

The Alliance is probably best known for providing unique group social skills development programs for children with autism spectrum disorder by incorporating the use of canine-assisted therapy. In addition to those popular programs, the organization also provides handler-dog teams to local hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes, as well as schools and libraries.

However, demand for the Alliance’s programs and services outstripped the capacity of its current leased facilities, requiring the organization to purchase land on which to build larger facilities that could accommodate an expansion of staff, volunteers, services and programs.  The more spacious quarters will also allow the non-profit to expand its youth volunteer programs and job training programs for at-risk teens, while providing additional housing facilities for rescued and foster dogs in training to become companions to special-needs children.

“We are thrilled to see our dream finally becoming a reality. Our new ‘Forever Home’ in Cedar Park will allow us to help more Central Texas youth, plus enable us to rescue more dogs for a second chance as therapy dogs and companion dogs for special needs kids,” says Debi Krakar, Austin Dog Alliance Executive Director. "Requests for our services are increasing dramatically, and this new facility will provide us the room to grow to meet those requests.  We couldn’t have done it without the support of the Central Texas community – those individuals, companies and organizations who have donated thousands of dollars in funding and services to see that our dream for a ‘Forever Home’ is realized.”

Groundbreaking for the new construction is scheduled for Thursday, September 13, 2012.  Austin Dog Alliance has projected a completion date on its new facility for Spring, 2013.

About Austin Dog Alliance
Located in Austin, Texas, the Austin Dog Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, provides unique group social skills development programs for children with autism spectrum disorder that incorporate the use of canine-assisted therapy. Austin Dog Alliance also provides handler-dog teams to local hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes, as well as schools and libraries through its Bow Wow Reading Dog program.

The Austin Dog Alliance’s “Build Our Forever Home Capital Campaign” is raising $1.57 million to build a permanent facility in Cedar Park in 2013. Staff members from O’Connell Robertson, Land Interactive and Big Red Dog Engineering volunteered their time to design the site and buildings, and the firms donated the plans. Other firms donating services include Acuity, Murray & Associates, Legacy Lighting, Joe Bland Construction, and ARA Land.

For more information, visit http://austindogalliance.org/.

Media Contact:
Debi Krakar
Executive Director, Austin Dog Alliance
12129 RR 620 North, Suite 401
Austin, TX 78750
Office: 512.335.7100
Cell: 512.576.8300
Email: debi@austindogalliance.org